Growing orka and planting an okra plant – where to start?
Do you want a good plant that produces flowers and edible parts? Then growing okra is for you!
Okras are great for planting and for gardens, as these plants produce flowers that look like hibiscus flowers. This makes them ideal plants for a pretty flower garden. Plus, they produce edible pods that are good for making soups and stews, and even pickles! So, here is a list of things to do when growing okra!
prepare potting soil Do not start okra seeds in your garden. Plant them in small pots instead. You can use small clay pots or discarded sardine cans (the tall round ones). Another great idea would be to use peat pot trays. Put a small plastic bag inside each jar. Fill these bags with moist, humus-rich soil, but avoid compressing them to keep the soil loose. You can add a little fertilizer or nothing at all, as this type of soil will provide enough nutrients for the seeds to grow.
Plant okra seeds Now plant a seed about an inch deep in the soil in each pot. Keep these pots indoors, but in places where they can receive a minimal amount of sunlight. Check the moisture level of the soil and water each pot accordingly. Okra seeds typically start to sprout after a week or two, so be patient.
Transplanting Growing Okra Seedlings to Your Garden Take a look at the growth of your Okra seedlings. Once they are about 3 inches tall, they are ready to be transferred to your garden. Carefully remove the plastic bags from the pots that carry the soil and seedlings with them. Take all this to your garden. Start cultivating the soil of the future Okra field. Cultivate deeply to bring out the humus-rich soil below those on the surface. Add fertilizers and mix them into the soil, and then dig holes that are big enough to fit the bags filled with soil. Each hole should be 10 to 12 inches apart to allow enough room for the seedlings to grow. Once you are done with the holes, start carefully removing the plastic bags so that the soil remains intact. If this proves difficult, simply open a large enough opening on two opposite sides of the bag to expose the soil. Then put it in the hole. Make sure the soil in the bag is level with the soil surrounding the hole.
